Pride and Prejudice: Overwhelmingly almost adequate

[dangermousie]

Saw Keira Knightly's version of Pride and Prejudice and shockingly didn't hate it.

Of course, the difference between it and the BBC version is like comparing Hallmark with Shakespeare. The meat of the story has been cut out to turn it into a rather cliche heaving bosoms type period chick flick. Don't even get me started on the fact that people in that world seem to pay midnight calls, wander around like Heathcliff wannabes, go without any servants for travel, or the Bennetts' incomprehensible squalor.

As to Matthew McFaddden, he just left me rather cold. Colin Firth he ain't though I assume he is better somewhere else, considering the gush I'd read about him. Mr. Darcy does not appear proud or brooding or anything but sullen. Of course, who could blame him, considering they didn't let him sleep for three days, took away his razor, and banned all hair brushes from his vicinity. Sadly, the same is true for the rest of the cast. Keira Knightly is actually OK, though she doesn't come across as fiercely intelligent in the way Jennifer Ehle did. The last scene, with the billing and cooing and everything but 'shmoopy' is....no.

But Jane is beautiful, Jane and Bingley are adorable together, the balls are hectic fun, Wickham handome the way he is supposed to be, and the scene where Lizzy tells her father how much she likes Darcy is adorable.

Comments

[ange-louise.livejournal.com]

I like your review. I adore the 1995 BBC version, in fact I consider it the definitive. 'Adequate' probably best describes this version from what I've heard (uh...I probably shouldn't pass judgement since I haven't actually seen it). McFadden would make a good Heathcliffe, but considering Darcy is polished and posh I don't think he pulls it off too well.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yes, McFadden is either hideously miscast or badly directed. Basically, I saw no point in this since the definitive version has been made less than a decade before this movie.

[grace-om.livejournal.com]

I've not seen the new one yet, but I've been rewatching the BBC version on A&E in the mornings. It is truly fantastic. The way they look at each other *sigh*. "Fiercely intelligent"--yes. Not exactly beautiful, but arresting: the more you look at her the more you want to keep looking. And Colin Firth...he's never really been a fav of mine, but as Darcy? *swoons* It's perfect.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Oh. Yes. Yes on every word. I really fell in love with Jennifer Ehle's Lizzy. You can see why any man, even if not dazzled by her at first, would want to spend his whole life with her after knowing her more.

The way they look at each other *sigh*.

Oh yes, must rewatch now.

Colin Firth...he's never really been a fav of mine, but as Darcy? *swoons*

Indeed. I like him well enough as an actor but he's never inspired huge enthusiasm. But as Darcy? I don't know what is it about that, but he brings me swooning to my knees.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

Yeah, adequate was sort of my impression too. I thought I was going to HATE it, but it just sort of left me going "well, it wasn't bad". I adored Rosamund Pike as Jane though. She's gorgeous and kind, so you understand why Bingley would be knocked off his feet by her and also her rather limpid personality makes it understandable why Bingley would think she didn't like him.

It did turn into a bit of a Harlequin there at the end though, with Lizzy wandering around the countryside in her nightgown, only to run across Darcy wandering across the countryside in HIS nightgown and the utterly cheeseball last scene. The problem with Macfadyen is that he's more broody than arrogant, and Darcy was more arrogant. His voice though...good lor, I love his voice.

The overwhelming feeling about the movie though is, "why bother"? The BBC version sort of made all other ones rather irrelevent.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

the utterly cheeseball last scene

I was cringing. Cringing, I tell you. Ugh.

good lor, I love his voice

Trying to remember the voice. In all honesty, I thought McFadden was about as attractive as a (damp) brick in this one. Just horribly, horribly miscast.

with Lizzy wandering around the countryside in her nightgown, only to run across Darcy wandering across the countryside in HIS nightgown

It was like a Bollywood fantasy sequence only soggier and without dancing.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

Seriously, I'd have Macfadyen's voice's babies. I love really low voices, and his is very much so.

[vierran45.livejournal.com]

Yeah, adequate was sort of my impression too. [...] it just sort of left me going "well, it wasn't bad".

That is exactly what I thought after seeing the film. Adequate, not bad, but not good either. The BBC is version is still the definitive one to me.

I wasn't expecting to hate this film, but I severe doubts about it, which is probably why I thought it was better than I expected it to be :).

I really liked Matthew MacFadyen in Spooks (MI-5), but in this film he was horribly miscast.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear he was better elsewhere. Because? Ugh.